I nodded. He wasn’t really. At least, he hadn’t been to that blonde girl. He’d been angry and rude. Nothing like I’d expected. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m fine. It’s just a lot to take in today.”
“It is.”
There was a brief knock at the door before it opened. Dad stepped in, then took his time admiring me. He shook his head with a small smile. “You look absolutely radiant, ladybug.”
I gave him a grateful smile.
“The cars are ready to go. We should head out in ten minutes. Samuel is making sure everyone’s in place.”
Dad came over to me and kissed my forehead. “This will be a wonderful day. You are safe.”
“I know, Dad.” I wasn’t worried about my safety. The Camorra wouldn’t attack. They had no reason to, and even if the Bratva or one of our other enemies tried to attack, they’d fail. The bridal car was bulletproof and accompanied by four cars with bodyguards. This was a high-security wedding.
Dad smiled at Anna. “You make sure our bride isn’t too nervous.”
Mom nodded. “I’m taking my leave. Maybe the maid of honor and the bride want a bit of privacy. I’m sure you two want to have a chat before everything starts.”
“I’ll wait outside for you,” Dad said.
I nodded and my parents left the room. Anna stood, smoothing her dress, while Dad closed the door so we could have some privacy. Anna looked absolutely stunning in a blue dress that matched her eyes and mine.
Her smile dropped as soon as we were alone, and she hurried over to me with a frown. “Don’t let anything ruin this day for you. You’ve been looking forward to it for years. Enjoy it.” She hugged me. “I mean it. I’ll be so pissed if you don’t party like there’s no tomorrow.”
I huffed. “Kind of difficult to not let it ruin everything when your groom would rather marry someone else. That’s not really something I’ve been looking forward to. This wedding isn’t about me, and you know it. Everyone will be comparing it to Fina’s failed wedding and everyone will compare me to her.”
Anna shrugged. “So what? Let them. You don’t have to be afraid of that comparison, Sofia. You are fucking gorgeous. People are looking at you because of that fact and not because they’re comparing you to your sister. She’s been gone for so long. She ran off with the enemy. Nobody gives a fuck about her anymore.”
“Leonas’s influence on you is obvious,” I said with a laugh.
“He’d like to think it’s his doing that I’m using the F-word so often. But I’m just doing it to annoy Santino, and it’s kind of stuck.”
I rolled my eyes. “What’s been going on between the two of you?”
Anna made a dismissive gesture. “Let’s not get into that today. This is your day.”
I searched her eyes. She was keeping something from me. “How did you get rid of your crush on Santino? I wish it would work for me as well. I just don’t want to be in love with Danilo anymore.”
Anna tilted her head in consideration. “You got the disadvantage of having to marry him. That makes it kind of hard to forget about him.”
As if I didn’t know it.
“Are you even in love with Danilo, or are you in love with the image you had of him? Because I think he’s been an asshole, and that’s not someone you want to be in love with.”
I raised my eyebrows.
Anna laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You should know better, though. You’re the reasonable type.”
“You’ve got almost everyone fooled into thinking you’re reasonable, too.”
She flashed me a grin. “I prefer to have people underestimate me.”
“They do.”
We smiled at each other. I sighed. “You always make me feel better.”
“You must enjoy today. Drink a few glasses of champagne, dance until your feet hurt. Don’t give a damn about Danilo, groom or not. If he can’t see how beautiful you are, it’s his loss. Don’t try to be someone else. You are awesome. He’ll realize it eventually, and if not, then find yourself a nice lover on the side.”
My eyes grew wide. “Danilo would rip him to shreds. He’s not a politician.”
Anna pursed her lips, a twinkle in her eyes. She always knew how to lighten the mood with her antics.
I cleared my throat. “Thank you for having my back. I don’t know what I would have done without you these last few months. You’re my best friend and I love you.”
Anna swallowed hard and looked up to the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “Don’t make me cry, Soph. I have a reputation to uphold. I’ve worked hard for the title of Ice Queen.”
I giggled. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone you’re sentimental.”
She took a deep breath then fixed me with a stern look. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I am now.”
“What about tonight? Are you worried because of last time?”
“I’m trying not to think about it.”
“Don’t let him treat you like he did then.”
“He won’t,” I said. “I told you he was careful and gentle the moment he realized who I was. It was as if he suddenly couldn’t bear touching me.” I tried my best, but I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice.
“Trust me, he’ll want to touch you. Take control. Don’t just let it happen.”
“I won’t.”
Dad’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Two minutes.”
Anna looked me in the eye. “I should probably hurry to my family. Will you be okay?”
I took a deep breath, then plastered a firm smile on my face. “Go ahead. I’m fine.”
She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek then rushed out and closed the door behind her.
My fingers trembled as I smoothed down my wedding dress and lowered the veil over my face. This was my day and yet . . .
. . . it wasn’t my name they would whisper in the pews today.
Because I was the consolation prize.
The surrogate bride.
Worst of all, I was not my sister.
I peered at
